Windows 7: Should I Upgrade?
November 17, 2009
Windows 7 has been out for almost a month now and for the most part has gotten positive reviews. I have been asked by a lot of people if they should upgrade their computers to the new operating system. The short answer is no, but for some users it does make sense.
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Toolbars…Are They Helpful?
October 14, 2009
How many toolbars do you currently have installed in your web browser? Did you know that the more toolbars you have, the slower your browser will behave? Toolbars may seem like they are a useful tool but in reality they aren’t as useful as you may think. Most of the time, the “features” they add are already in the latest version of your browser. Read more
Fake Anti-Virus Software: Are You Safe?
September 14, 2009
One of the ever growing threats out in the world is the presence of computer viruses. Computer viruses and other unwanted visitors such as worms, trojans etc, have become more widespread than ever and pose a serious threat to everyone who uses a computer (except us linux users of course). Someone once asked me, “How can my computer be messed up when I have anti-virus software?” I took a look at their laptop and they actually had fake anti-virus software. It looked like real anti-virus software and appeared to function like it, but it did not. It said it was performing system scans and even reported fake logs saying the computer was clean. What’s even worse is that when I tried to remove it, it had such control of the system that any attempt to install real anti-virus software failed, as the fake program would prevent that from happening. I eventually was able to get rid of it by other means, but it was a first (of many) encounters with this type of threat. Fake anti-virus software can be very serious because it allows other malicious software to be installed on your computer and can have its own threats that include items that lead to identity theft, which is another growing concern and something we will discuss in the future.
How to Keep your Computer System Physically Clean
May 7, 2009
So, what is the best way to remove fingerprints and/or smudges from your computer screen? What about those smudges on your laptop? How do you safely remove them without damaging your screen? There are many different types of cleaners out there that are “supposed” to be okay to use computer screens, but there have been horrible accounts of people using an “approved” product and ruining their brand new screen. ALWAYS read the manufacturer’s recommendations before using anything to clean your electronics, or you can potentially damage your screen. Read more
How Do I Choose a Strong Password?
March 24, 2009
Every person who uses a computer knows how important security is. One aspect of security that we will be examining today is the infamous password. How do you choose a good password? Having a weak password is one way that can lead to identity theft and/or other personal data information being exposed. Read more
How do I Choose a Smartphone?
February 4, 2009
Let’s face it: just about everyone nowadays has a cell phone, and many of us have work e-mail that we’re expected to check on the fly. What’s the best way to do that? For most people, the answer is a smartphone.
What is a smartphone, you ask? It’s simply a cellular telephone with advanced capabilities that make it more like a tiny personal computer than a telephone. Smartphones typically handle e-mail, calendars, personal notes, and standard cellular phone capabilities. There are several notable giants in the field: Palm (and other Windows Mobile devices), Blackberry, and the recent entrant into the market of cellular technology, the iPhone from Apple. This month, we will focus briefly on some of the work-related aspects where each of these phones may help or hinder you. Read more
How to install and configure Firefox in Windows
February 3, 2009
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Download Firefox by clicking here.
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Proceed through the install. When you are finished, check the “Launch Firefox Now” option.
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You can now import all of your bookmarks and settings from Internet Explorer. Read more
Stocking stuffers for the techie in your life
December 18, 2008
Everyone has somebody in their life who is considered a techie. Be it a loved one, co-worker or friend, there are techies all around us. Being that said person is a techie, most “typical” gifts one thinks of are fairly expensive. From video-games to DVD’s, iPod’s and TVs, electronic gifts can be a little rough on the wallet. So what are some good gift ideas for a techie, without having to spend a fortune?
A safer way to use credit cards online
December 18, 2008
Most of us have purchased things on-line with a credit-card. With all the news of identity theft and credit-card theft lately, it is understandable to be hesitant about making online purchases. This is especially the case when you need to make a payment at a new website that you haven’t developed a trust for. The online payment website PayPal has a little-known and under-used feature that can help reduce the chances of your credit card being used without your authorization.
If you have a PayPal account, you can take advantage of their free “secure card” feature. This is a service where PayPal creates a one-time use, or single-vendor credit card for you. You get a unique credit card that can only be used one-time, or that can only be used at a single vendor (your choice). The credit card is tied to your PayPal account or your bank account to fund the purchases.
Planning for the unexpected: Backup and Survive
November 21, 2008
You know you’re supposed to backup your data. You probably also know it’s not a matter of if your hard drive fails, but a matter of when. You even may be doing your backups daily, which is a great practice, but are you backing up all the data you need to recover fully? The goal here is to waste as little time as possible to get back to exactly where you were before you lost your data.
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